SPEECH BY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR HO PENG KEE, MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND HOME AFFAIRS, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE SPEED MANAGEMENT CAMPAIGN 1999 AT THE CDANS COUNTRY CLUB ON 28 MAY 99 AT 10.30AM

Traffic Police has been organising speed management campaigns every year since 1997. These campaigns send a simple message – DON’T SPEED. Sustained enforcement by Traffic Police and repeated efforts to educate the motoring public have had some impact. But speeding remains a problem.

Traffic Police takes no pleasure in coming down hard on speedsters. It is not a cat-and-mouse game but a matter of life and death. Speeding is the single most prevalent cause of road fatalities in Singapore. Last year, 221 people died in road accidents. 90 of them were killed in speed-related accidents.

More than 41,000 summons were issued for speeding last year. Of those who received summons, 8000 drivers, about one in five, were caught by speed detection cameras. In terms of the number of summons issued, speeding is among the top three most common serious moving traffic offences. The other two offences are red-light violation and careless driving.

Over the past year, Traffic Police has introduced a series of measures to clamp down on speeding. Three new speed detection cameras were installed at expressways, and lightly-marked expressway patrol cars were put into operation. Penalties against speeding were also enhanced. One such enhanced penalty was imposing 24 demerit points on any driver who exceeds the vehicle or road speed limits by 60 kilometres per hour. This effectively means immediate suspension of the driving licence. Within three months of the implementation of this penalty on 1^st of June last year, 70 motorists were caught and had their licences suspended because of one single speeding offence.

Two new measures will be introduced soon. First, from 1st June, Traffic Police will deploy three new portable laser speed cameras to detect motorists who speed. These cameras use the latest digital technology and can detect multiple speeding vehicles with a high degree of accuracy. Their portability gives Traffic Police flexibility in deployment, such as at roads where excessive speeding is observed or reported. At suitable locations along expressways, ramps and raised platforms will be constructed to widen the detection zones of the portable cameras. These ramps and platforms will also enhance the safety of the traffic police officers.

Secondly, heavy vehicles will soon be required to have speed limiters. Traffic Police and the Land Transport Authority have completed the initial study into speed limiters and have decided to gradually install these devices in heavy vehicles. Starting 1st July, all newly-registered heavy vehicles above the unladen weight of 10 tons for buses and 12 tons for heavy vehicles such as trucks, lorries and tippers must be fitted with speed limiters with a pre-set speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour. This requirement will be extended in gradual phases to older heavy vehicles as well. The implementation details will be announced shortly.

I am pleased that the Singapore Lorry Owners' Association, Singapore Freight Forwarders' Association and Singapore Contractors' Association which represent some 1,200 members have supported the installation of speed limiters in heavy vehicles. They have already installed these in 4 vehicles, way before the deadline, and will encourage all their members to do likewise. The three associations has also supported the Campaign by featuring the campaign message on 4 vehicles. Indeed, this is the first time a road safety campaign message is carried in heavy vehicles, which is unlike the usual practice of carrying it in taxis and buses. The spirit of working together is commendable.

I commend the Traffic Police for organising this Speed Management Campaign. While this campaign hopes to raise motorists' awareness of the consequences of speeding, ultimately, it is their actions on the roads that count. When we drive carefully and courteously, within the speed limit, our roads will be a safer place for all of us.

On this note, I now launch the 1999 Speed Management Campaign.

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